Chapter 12

Hannah tried to be angry with Myles when she found out he'd lied to her. However, the longer she thought about it, the more she realized how much he'd done to save her life.

As she played back his words in her mind, Hannah thought not of what he said, but how he said it. She couldn't believe she hadn't seen it before, but maybe not being able to see helped her to listen closer.

From the day they'd met, Hannah thought the tall New Englander was abrupt and rude. However, after his recent actions, she suspected his harshness was more of a cover to hide his real emotions.

Hannah recalled the phone call from his parents than she'd overheard a few days ago. At the time, she'd thought his snotty high-class upbringing caused him to be so cold. However, she was beginning to believe he was using his aloofness to shield himself from hurt he'd felt as a child.

As she felt her way back to the stairs she'd found earlier, Hannah made a mental note to ask Tara about it later. Right now, she had to concentrate on where she was going, or she'd never find her way back to Myles.

And I've got to find a way out, Hannah told herself. She knew that even if she got all of the debris off Myles, she'd never be able to get him out without help. If I don't get lost in the process, she sighed, wishing she could see, but too stubborn to wait for help to come to her.

When her hands encountered the fallen rubble blocking the stairwell, Hannah's heart sunk. We're blocked in, she groaned, pushing the stray strands of hair out of her face, wincing when her fingers brushed across her sore cheek. What do I do now? she wondered, sagging dejectedly against the wall.

Resting her throbbing head in her hand, she tried to think. I can look for another way out, Hannah thought, only to reject that idea quickly, when she realized she had no idea if there even was another way out.

Well, there is only one thing I can do, Hannah resolved, pushing herself away from the wall. I'll just have to wait, she thought, hoping a rescue team was already on the way.

Thinking about how cold Myles felt, she couldn't help, but worry that any rescue attempt might be too late. He was definitely going into shock from his injuries, she thought silently. However, she didn't know what she could do for him in their present situation.

"Myles," Hannah called as she pulled herself up and over the pile of debris yet again. When he didn't answer, she felt her heart drop.

"Myles!" she repeated again, almost shouting as she dropped hard to the ground on the other side. Scrabbling up quickly, Hannah felt around until her hands encountered his still form.

Hannah breathed a sigh of relief when she felt his pulse beating, weak but steady at his neck. Thank God, she thought silently, refusing to think of what might have happened while she was gone. He was so cold and clammy that she worried he might not make it.

Don't leave me, Myles! Hannah pleaded, her eyes misting as she began to run her hands vigorously up and down his upper body. Shaking her head slightly, she tried not to think of how her fingers tingled at the touch. When a hand grabbed her wrist, she had to bite her tongue to keep from crying out.

"Myles, are you okay?" Hannah asked quickly, hoping her voice didn't sound as breathless to him as it did to her own ears.

"What are you doing?" Myles questioned groggily . The disconnected tone in his voice had her worried if he was all right.

"You're going into shock," Hannah told him sternly, pulling her hand away from him to continue rubbing up and down his chest. "I'm trying to warm you up," she explained, hoping she could do what was needed until help arrived.

"Where did you go?" Myles murmured sleepily.

"To try and find help, but the stairs are blocked," Hannah continued, her hands constantly moving as she hoped her voice didn't give away her disappointment. "We'll just have to wait until someone finds us."

"No one's coming," he groaned quietly.

"They are coming," Hannah shouted, not wanting to let him give up. "Jack would have sent someone when we didn't check in at closing. I'm sure they're on their way now," she added, running her fingers through her hair.

"Too late," Myles whispered in a hushed tone as if he was drifting off.

"It is NOT too late," Hannah cried. "You listen to me, Myles Leland the third. You will fight, do you hear me? You can't leave me down here alone!" she exclaimed, shaking his shoulders to make sure she had his attention.

"Tired," he mumbled, but at least he was still responding to her.

"I know, I am too, but you've got to fight," she insisted, continuing to rub his chest to warm him. "You've got to stay awake. I can't do this alone," she pleaded.

A sudden rumble reverberated through the building, sending loose debris falling down around them. Stifling a scream, Hannah leaned over Myles trying to shield him. What's happening? she wondered as the bricks and concrete fell around them.

It was over within seconds, but to Hannah it felt like hours. The silence seemed almost deafening as she sat up listening, and hearing nothing.

"Myles?" Hannah questioned, raising her hands to his face. "Myles, can you hear me?" she called again worriedly.

"Was that another bomb?" Myles asked, his voice a little stronger than it was before.

"No, of course not," Hannah shook her head. Could it have been? she wondered, fear beginning to take control.

"What is this water?"

"Water?" Hannah repeated, realizing for the first time her legs were getting wet. "Oh, my God. A water line must have broken. Do you see where it's coming from?"

"No, I can't see anything," Myles moaned, his voice strained as he looked around.

Oh, God, what are we going to do? Hannah worried as the water continued to pour in around them, filling the floor where Myles laid. It would only take minutes before it totally submerged him.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to you," Hannah vowed, wondering how she would keep that promise.